Electric switch.



G. IB. THOMAS. ELECTRICv SWITCH. AP PLIOATION ITILBD AUG.11, 1911.

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' Patented Dec. 16', 1918.

\ To all whom z't may concern:

UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE.

AGEORGE B. THOMAS, OF BRIDG-EPOBT, CONNECTICUT, SSI'GNORTO THE PERKINS 'ELECTRIC SWITCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, v0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

13e it 'known that I, GEORGE B. THOMAS, a c1t1zen of the United States of America, and residing at Bridgeport, in the county of `Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Im roved Electric Switch, of which the `following is a specifig cation.

My inyention relates to electric switches and partlcularly to pull switches, the object of my invention being to provide a simple in a switch in which my invention is embo ied in one form, mounted therein and partially broken away to show certain features of construction; Fi 2 1s aside elevation of the switch operating mechanism and securing bridge, with parts detached and partially broken away; Fig. 3 is a plan of the bridge bushing; Figs. 4 and 5 are respective plan of the blank for and side elevation of the actuating spiral; Fig. 6 is a partially broken away ,slde elevation oi.0 the switch .with the hickey screw bridge mounted directly on the porcelain body of the switch; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the switch showing the switch operating mechanism 1n se'ction and the cover sleeve used vwhen the switch is exposed. Y

The present switch, is 'particularly designed for canopy work to take the place of the usual pendent switch or the common forms of pull switches now commonly used. in canopy fixtures. I have accordingly shown, in Fig. 1 the usual canopy 10,'the iiared upper end of which engages the canopy ring 11 supported by the short conduit sections 12 screwed at their inner ends into the hickey 13. The latter is threaded at 14 to receive the end of the usual wire conduit or other support through which the 'wires areled intothe canopy, passing out through the short conduits 12 to the lamps or other devices in which the switch controlled current is to be used. l

The switch is here shown as inclosed in a Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led August 11 1911.

Patented Dec. 1e, 1.913. Seria1'No.`643,582.

casing 15 with insulating lining 16, and secured to the hickey by means of a screw 17 passln through the bridge bushing 18 fast wlth t e switch casing 15 and enterin the threaded nipple 19 on the'lower face'o the hicke 13. The switch casing fits over the porce ain body 20 on which the switch is mounted. The switch which may be 0f any desired character and number of poles is not shown in the drawing since the particular construction thereof, aside from the fact that it is ratchet operated, does not enter into my invention. Wire terminals 21 and 22 for two leading-in wires are shown, with channels 23. 24 in the side of t-he porcelain for the accommodation of the wires.

The ratchet mechanism of the present switch comprises a ratchet element 25 fast with the swltch spindle 26 and the actuating ratchet element 27 fast with the end of the cam sleeve 28. Surroundingthe cam slotted sleeve 28 is a second sleeve 29 with straight guide slots 30, and inwardly project-ing end flange 3l which engages the end of the cam sleeve 28 and thus 'prevents the longitudinal displacement thereof while leaving the same free to rotate. A pull rod 32 slides longitudinall enlarge at its inner end 33 to engage the slide ring 34, on the latter are lugs 35 extending through the cam slots 36 of the sleeve 28 `and engaging the guide slots 30 in the sleeve 29. A spring 37 surrounding` the pull rod 32, bears againstthe ring 34 at one end and against the iange 31 on the sleeve 29, at the other end. The guide sleeve 29 passes throu h a bracket 38 carried by the porcelain bo y and is held against longitu- 'dinal displacement by the engagement of the abutment rings 39 and 40 on said sleeve and 'bracket respectively. The ring 39 on the sleeve is recessed at 41 to receive the oifsets 42 'of the ring 40 ofthe bracket, and the sleeve is thus held againstrotation. The operation of this ratchet mechanism'is readily understood, when the pull rod 32 is drawn outward, itpulls with it the slidel ring 34. Inasmuch as the lugs 35 on the latter engage the guide slot 30 of the sleeve t 29. they are held against rotation and con sequentlyw a rotaryv motion is imparted toi; the ratcheesleeve28,1th1-ogh'.thescamffslot 36 of which the lugs 35 pass. This outwa-rd movement y. ofY the pulLro'd ythus rQtatesthe f ratchet `element 27 `actuatingdirectionyf whileA the spring 37 which is compressed during the outward movement of the pull rod, serves to automatically return thef ratchet sleeve 28to its normal position. As a simple and inexpensive method of making this ratchet sleeve, I propose to` strike a diagonally slotted blank 43 froml sheet metal and roll the same to cylindrical form. The tongue 421 andjre'cess 4:5 at one, end of the blank cooperatewith the slanting sides. of theblank to insurethe proper relation of thea-parts in thefc'ompleted ratchet sleevef I inasmuch as the canopy completely in-y closes the switch, the necessityior a switch casingdoesnot existo for this style of work and in Fig. 6y `I-have accordingly shown the switch Without thecasing andv having the4 bridge lbushing 46 secured directly to the porcelainjbodyhof the `switch by. lthe screws 47 which', also, hold ,the` bracket 38 in place I v a y ,v --Where the switchis to be exposed I prefer to placca. plain cover sleeve 48 over the guide sleeve 29 soas to hide the slot thereof and the mechanism visible therethrough.

lA- pin prick LtQserves to vform a thread engaging projection by which the cover sleeve '48 may be screwed, on the threads 50` at the', outer end of the sleeve 29. Vhen a canopy is-employe'd this thread at the outer end ofthe guide sleeve 29 is engaged by the nut 51 which holds; the ball 52 against" the canopy and tion.` i ,a y y.: v

The v'pull rod'32is .bayonet-,slotted at its lower end to-receive; a pull member of` any suitable character..- In ythe drawing a pull string 53 is illustrated, carrying at its upper endy a double ball 54, the smaller end of which enters and engages the bayonetslot of the pull rod. i

Various modifications of the structure thus retains the latter in posi shown will readily'lsuggest themselves.

I claim as my invention 1 l.An electric pull switch having an insulating body, a switch mounted thereon and a'ratchet operating mechanism for .said switch comprising a ratchetactuating spiral, alongitudinally movable lng engaging said spiral, a sleeve with guide-slot for saidlug anda bracket on the switch body holding said sleeve against longitudinal and angular displacement.` il I 2. In an'electricl switch havinga ratchet operatingmcchanism, a tubular actuating spiral, saidspiral in blank forincomprrss ingl awdiagonally slotted sheet metal blank having inclined sides and, at one end,

Loewe@ tqpgiref :and` recess ting.' ta'jform a Joint'lwh'enftherblaiikisarolled to shape?, substantially as described.

3.@Anff1e1ectricfcanopypullswitchcompris- 'ingaan yop eratmg,ratchetmechanismahaving a xedfguidersleeyeathreadednataits outer end, a canopy ittmg over said switch and a I'lockinitthreaded on said guide sleeve to hold said canopy in position.

f 4f. Anlelectric pull switch havingian operating ratchet'mechanism comprising a spirally slotted sleeve carrying at one end a driving ratchet, a pull rod withinlsaidsleeve and vhaving a lug projecting through thel spiral slot of the` latter, a stationary/guide mem-` ber outside said sleeve 1. and in, sliding .ReniV gagement wlth said'lugon thefpullyinember to prevent rotation of'fthe latter, together with a return spring '.withinfthe sleeve adapted to Abe tensioned onthe youtward movement of the, pull rod andgservingto automatically return ,thelv latterl to position aftery actuation of the 5'. An electric pull` switch having jan op; erating ratchet mechanisrn .coniprising ,a spirally slotted sleeve,carrying',atv olie end a driving ratchet, avpull lrod,withinsaid sleeve and having a lug projacting' through the spiral slot of thelatter, astationary sleeveI incasing said ratchet `sleeveand' verti# cally slotted to receivegand guidethelug on the pull rod to prevent rotationlof the latter, together with A, @returnVv spring ysurf rounding said pull rod andbearing against the vhead of said-nstati"naryfguide;sleeve,

substantially as described. y Y 6. An velectric pull switch ',lif-tvi11gan op?v erating ratchet m'echanisl'ny ComplSl'nfg a, ro.- tary switch spindle, aA ratchet elemeiitmoving therewith, a coperating driving v:ratchet element, a spirally slotted .'sleevelrtating therewith, a pull member, aired :guide memberwand a lug on .sailpiillmembe,v passing through the spiralslot ofthe'rotary sleeve and in sliding engagement withfsaid guide memberwherebyisaid pnlltmember is held against rotation during tthe. actuation of. the switch.y Y f i 7 An electric pull Swearing;

erating ratchet memberacomprising a spirally slot-ted driving ratchetfelement,,apull member with lug passing through the ,spiral slot of saiddriving element,- a g'uibde meinber outside said drivingjelemeitfand.' slid? ablyl engaged .by v said lug on the merriber, andava bracket-mounted] onthev switch base to'holdsaidl guide .member againstlrdtation. o 4 8. An electric pull lswi` 'n n erating ratchet memberorrip rally slotted driving ratchet elerneritv member with lug passing.,through.thesp'l slot of said driving element, aj guide sleeve .surrounding said driving element und sld- 11eme. to thigspeecatiou, in the presence of- :Lbly engaged by said lug 0n the pull memtwo subserib'ng Witnesses. ber, e bracket ,fasst on thm smteh base and F "P l\ cooperating collars enl smd bracket and (I'JORUL B THO IAS 5 glulge: sleeve eperetwely engaged to hold Wtnesses' Salif gmde sleeve agmnst rotatlon. Gr. W. GOODRIDGE,

In testimony whereof I have sighed my A. H. JONES. 

